What's on the menu today, RNYers?

Me too :(.  I need to save for a refill via PS.

AnnyBananny, good work on getting into old jeans and moving the notch on your belt to have to make another one. LOL! How do you keep your carbs so low? What is your goal? 

Sara, since I'm so new, the only goal I have from my surgeon/NUT is for protein - which is at least 70 grams a day. Their basic rule for right now is to get my protein in and don't worry about calories or carbs yet. I have my next follow up on Thursday, so that might change then, not sure.

My personal goal is to keep my carbs around 30 for the day. I know many of our fellow OHers believe strongly in a low carb diet and feel it has been part of their success - and from following menus of various folks, it definitely looks like there is a correlation. And again, my carbs are low because I'm still so new - I'm still only eating 1-1.5 cups total a day. I think as my plan allows me to expand my food choices it will be harder for me to stay low carb since carbs were definitely a down fall for me in the past. 

I think both Emily and Pam are big low-carb proponents, perhaps they have some words of wisdom for us?

No words of wisdom here :(

I fanatically read everything I could on this site pre-surgery and it seemed like the people who were eating a protein forward diet lost a lot of weight.  They didn't have room for starches.  I also know that there is no nutritional value in the white carbs (flour, sugar) and I do know that I became super morbidly obese eating pizza, pasta, bread etc.  You will notice that when people regain they almost ALWAYS mention the carb monster, and how carbs have crept into their diet, and how they are slider foods, and how carbs make them more hungry.  So for me, knowing my predilection to carbs and seeing that the "biggest losers" don't eat them and the "regainers" often see them sneak in, it was a decision I had to make :(

This weekend in NYC I had a pang of sadness that I couldn't have bread at the table, but knowing I can only fit in 3-4 ounces of food, I know it has to be protein.  And I know I loved walking around without aching joints!  

I can only echo the above. I try to focus on the protein first, then fill in with high quality carbs like veggies. Pasta, bread, pizza etc. are the debbil, I tells ya! So in order to keep avoiding them, I make it my goal to have protein, protein, protein at meals, a bit of veg, and then that's it. My menus are far from perfect, and it's a continuous process of refining and learning, but overall I'm confident that I will probably continue to eat like this...well, forever.

It means making changes to your diet, your mindset, and your life. But it's perfectly doable! I can still go eat at the Cheesecake Factory, for example. But instead of having the Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes appetizer (1500 calories! 106 carbs! Did you know that online nutrition info says that appetizer "feeds 2 to 4"??) AND an entree (shudder), I'll get the Skinnylicious Ahi Tartare (skip the wonton chips, 14 protein 19 carbs and 250 calories) or the Warm Asparagus Salad (21 protein, 7 carbs, 386 calories) and be perfectly satisfied thanks to my pouch.

Like DCgirl said, I enjoy how I'm feeling and looking too much to go back to what I was doing before. 

Morning, all! After a no-chocolate Easter weekend, it's back to the usual Monday through Friday here. I did try something yesterday that I swore I wouldn't ever again: hubby asked me to get him a burger from McDonald's when I was out, so I got myself one of my beloved Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. I ate the filet and cheese part without the bun, and there was only minimal tartar sauce on it (once upon a time that would have made me sad, but yesterday I actually appreciated not having gobs of sauce.) And you know what? It was terrible. Cardboardy, tasteless, and just generally a waste of calories. Not something I'll repeat, that's for sure.

Nothing special planned for the day, although Sandra's crab and avocado is making me think about changing up my menu now!

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Pam...inquiring minds want to know...how the hell do you assemble your lunch?!  Roast beef, red onion, lettuce, and peanut butter?!?  

You are so good at getting in the protein and also a smattering of veggies.  I need to take a page out of your book!

PS And I seriously hope I never end up somewhere where pizza is the only option.  I would probably have to leave!  Although I am going to try cauliflower crust in May :)

LOL...the peanut butter looks a bit odd when you just see it like that, I'll admit! It's going to be a Thai-inspired lettuce wrap. Deli roast beef (I'll have them slice it kind of thick) sliced into strips, then tossed with the chopped red onion and a sauce made from the peanut butter, fresh grated ginger, a smidgen of garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, fish sauce and a squirt of lime juice. I'm considering adding a smidgen of juliened carrot and shredded cabbage plus a couple of fresh cilantro leaves, then all that will be wrapped up in the lettuce leaves. I may have the room (calorie and carb wise) for the extra veg if I don't use all the sauce, which would save me a good bit of the peanut butter.

I'm trying to keep my protein coming mostly from food sources and not rely on the shakes, but I miss veggies so much that it's hard to do. I'd almost rather eat vegetables and then just drink a protein shake, so I have to really focus on protein first. Thanks for the support!

Hi Emily! I am blown away by your pics! Just gorgeous!  You look so happy! So glad you had a great time in NYC and did so much walking.  And a pound down is great, like you said losing weight even while away is fantastic!  Like you I hated pictures of myself/being in pictures pre surgery now I love them!!

Had a very busy weekend here, lots of hiking with hubby and the dogs and stayed on track with my eating so was proud of myself even though temptation was everywhere! Bread, chocolate, pie, ice cream, didn't touch one of them!!

Sorry if you posted this before but where did you buy your Syntrax protein powders?  I would like to change mine up and try some sample packs.

5.5 months post post op RNY

B: two cups of black coffee with one Splenda each, and then One cup of unsweetened Almond milk with two scoops of chocolate protein powder

L: (leftovers) 4 oz bbq grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup of bbq grilled red bell pepper

S: two Swiss Babybel cheese

D: 4 oz of Greek Marinated chicken breast on the bbq and 1/2 cup of bbq grilled veggie skewer (bell pepper, onion, mushroom)

S: one Swiss Babybell and 100 gms of Voplait Source 0% Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt

**Edited as I forgot to add my stats:  683 calories  19 carbs  110 protein

Vitamins: two multi, one B12, one Fermax Iron done, alarms set for Calcium and D rest of the day

Water: so far so good, have been upping my water & I notice how good I feel.  My new fav is blueberry tea, I am drinking it like its going out of style!!

Exercise: Grocery shopping today, hike with the dogs.  Have just recently started to "jog" on my hikes with the dogs.  I will pick a tree or a marker up ahead and then jog to that point, then walk a bit and then pick another tree/marker and jog again.  So far so good!!

Have a great day everyone!

Daisy

Daisy - look at all of your NSVs!  Jogging with the dogs, avoiding bad foods...that's awesome.  

I buy my Syntrax here http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/Bariatric_Protein_Powders_s /6.htm but I don't know if they ship to Canada?  Maybe google it and see...I know other sites have it too.

You are going to visit your cousin in NYC coming up, right?  I want to recommend some restaurants.  Tamarind - best Indian food ever (it's in Tribeca).  I got the Punjabi tandoori chicken.  So delicious and tender and has no sauce!  I could only eat one piece (out of 5) and I mourned that because it was THAT good!  Also, Blue Ribbon Bakery Kitchen in the West Village.  I tasted a grilled avocado appetizer and had their salmon as my meal (ate 1/3 and they were very concerned that I didn't like it).  And for brunch, Kitchenette in Tribeca - I had their "protein plate" which was scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese, bacon, and turkey sausage.  Obviously could not eat the whole thing and I substituted egg whites and added onions.  OMG all so amazing!